RE: Good update18 Feb 2020 08:33
From Numis
PetroTal (Buy, TP: 50p) 21% increase in 2P reserves underpins growth
PetroTal, which is developing the Bretana field onshore Peru, has reported a strong 21% increase in independently audited 2P reserves to 47.7mmbbls. This growth is driven by the excellent operational results delivered by the team in 2019. Reported 2P reserves are ~2% ahead of our risked NAV modelling – we incorporated an expectation reserves would increase at YE 2019 and this has now been delivered. PetroTal trades at 0.51x our discovered resource NAV, a 23% discount to the sector on 0.66x. We forecast strong FCF generation of ~US$0.5bn over the next 5yrs at US$65/bbl Brent, equivalent to ~2.25x the current market cap. We continue to see the potential for further NAV increases over time towards our un-risked 88p/sh, if the production performance of the field tends towards that of other analogue fields in the region.
• Growth across all reserves categories: Strong reserves growth was repeated across all reserves categories, with 1P (proven) reserves increasing 20%, 2P reserves (proven + probable, or most likely) increasing 21%, and even 3P reserves (proven + probable + probable) increasing 8% to 84.8mmbbls.
• Recovery factor increase, more to go for: The recovery factor attributed by the reserves auditor has increased from 12% to 13.6% at the 2P level, and the 2P reserves assessment now approximates management’s internal estimate. There is still plenty of room for the recovery factor to increase over time; management believes a recovery factor of ~24% could be achieved given the performance of analogue fields in the region. Our discovered resource NAV stands at 49p/sh; this increases to 88p/sh in the higher recovery factor scenario, ~3.5x the current share price.
• Drilling restarted: Planned maintenance of the drilling rig is now complete and the 6H development well commenced drilling on 17 Feb, with completion expected around mid April. Drilling will continue through the year, and is expected to drive further production increases.
• Facilities commissioning nearing completion: Current production stands at 10mbbls/d, and has been fluctuating during commissioning of the Central Processing Facility, which is now nearing completion. We forecast production of 10.9mbbls/d for 1Q 2020 and production of 13.0mbbls/d for 2020, with 2020 production growth back-end loaded as production wells are drilled and brought onstream.